Filing a Program Discrimination Complaint as a USDA Customer
USDA prohibits discrimination against its customers. If you believe you experienced discrimination when obtaining services from USDA, participating in a USDA program, or a program that receives financial assistance from USDA, you may file a complaint with USDA. OASCR, through the Center for Civil Rights Enforcement, will investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination in programs operated or assisted by USDA.
USDA prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, sexual harassment, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, limited English proficiency, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from a public assistance program. In programs that receive Federal financial assistance from USDA, discrimination is prohibited on the bases of race, color, religious creed, sex, political beliefs, age, disability, national origin, or limited English proficiency. (Not all bases apply to all programs.) Reprisal is prohibited based on prior civil rights activity.
To file a program discrimination complaint, you may obtain a complaint form by sending an email to program.intake@usda.gov. You or your authorized representative must sign the complaint form. You are not required to use the complaint form. You may write a letter instead. If you write a letter, it must contain all of the information requested in the form and be signed by you or your authorized representative. Incomplete information will delay the processing of your complaint. Employment civil rights complaints will not be accepted through this email address.
Compliance with Title IX is a joint responsibility. The USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) investigate complaints, conduct compliance reviews, and provide technical assistance and guidance.
Title IX applies to any recipient of federal funds. Any applicant to, participant in, or employee of, a program receiving federal financial assistance from NIFA has the right to file a Title IX complaint through OASCR if they feel that they have been discriminated against or harassed based on their sex. Please see USDA DR 4330-002: Nondiscrimination in Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from USDA as well as the Title IX Fact Sheet and Title IX Best Practices from NIFA Land Grant Universities.
Program information is available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, and American Sign Language) should contact (1) the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or (2) USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or (3) TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711 on our website.
Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail, fax, or email.
USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (English) (PDF, 293 KB)
USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (Spanish) (PDF, 303 KB)
Here are our addresses and fax number:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Director, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
Fax: (202) 690-7442
email: program.intake@usda.gov
Click on the topics below for detailed information.
How do I request a waiver of the 180-day filing deadline?
Whom may I contact for further information on filing a program discrimination complaint?
How is my discrimination complaint processed?
How do I request a waiver of the 180-day filing deadline?
A waiver may be granted for the following reasons: (1) the discriminatory act could not reasonably be expected to be known within the 180-day period; (2) illness or incapacitation; (3) the same complaint was filed with another Federal, state, or local agency; and (4) any other basis determined by the Center for Civil Rights Enforcement.
Whom may I contact for further information on filing a program discrimination complaint?
You may contact the Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Information Research Service, on (866) 632-9992 (toll free) or send an email to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities, may contact us through the Telecommunication Relay Service at 711 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).
How is my discrimination complaint processed?
Filing a USDA program discrimination complaint does not waive or toll requirements for filing a lawsuit. Complainants are advised that they may wish to consult a lawyer at their earliest convenience to ensure that their rights are protected and preserved.
Intake Stage
The first stage of the program discrimination complaint process is the intake stage. At this stage, the Center for Civil Rights Enforcement (CCRE) determines whether your complaint meets the legal requirements to be accepted for processing. Prior to making this determination, CCRE may request clarification or additional information about the complaint from you. For more information about what must be included in your complaint, read How To File A Program Discrimination Complaint.
If your complaint is accepted for processing, CCRE will send you a letter notifying you of the acceptance and inform you of the basis and issues that will be investigated.
If your complaint is not accepted for processing, CCRE will send you a letter notifying you why your complaint was not accepted, and your complaint will be closed. If appropriate, your closed complaint may be referred to an USDA agency that may assist in resolving your issues.
Investigation Stage
After complaint is accepted, an investigator will be assigned. The investigator will contact you, any agency employees involved, and any other appropriate individual, to obtain sworn statements and documents relating to the issues in the complaint. After the complaint is investigated, a Report of Investigation (ROI) is prepared and the complaint is sent to the next stage, adjudication.
Adjudication Stage
During the adjudication stage, the Center for Civil Rights Enforcement will review the Report of Investigation and perform a legal and factual analysis of the complaint to determine whether discrimination occurred. Based on this analysis, the Office of Adjudication will issue a Final Agency Decision. The Final Agency Decision will contain an analysis of the claims in the complaint and the Center for Civil Rights Enforcement conclusions and findings, including whether discrimination was found.
If discrimination is found, the Office of Adjudication may attempt to settle the complaint or take other corrective action, as appropriate. If no discrimination is found, the complaint is closed. A copy of the Final Agency Decision will be mailed to the complainant after it is signed by the Director of the Center for Civil Rights Enforcement.
If your complaint alleges discrimination based on disability, you may appeal the Final Agency Decision to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights within 90 days of receipt of the Final Agency Decision. This opportunity for appeal applies only to complaints alleging discrimination based on disability.
NOTE
In complaints alleging discrimination in certain USDA programs or those falling under the authority of other government agencies or departments, the complaint will be processed in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding. In those instances, the procedure used to process your complaint may be different from the procedure described above. The procedure used will be determined by the Memorandum of Understanding.
